Thursday, 31 January 2013

We have filed for the judge to be recused and also an application for the Mosti Minister to be summoned to court for cross examination by our counsel.

These two have to be disposed off before the hearing of JR can proceed.

One of the reasons why we filed for the recusal is because she ruled on last Tuesday's application on the ground that the 7 applicants did not appeal to the Minister first before coming to court for leave.

I am one of the 5 applicants who had not gone thru the minister's hearing and if this is to be the criteria in use in her future judgement, I and the other two applicants will be barred from proceeding ANY further!

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

Press statement of Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL)

SMSL Continues with Court Action to Stop Lynas

30th January 2013

SMSL is sceptical with yesterday’s Kuantan high court’s outcome dismissing the judicial review case filed by seven Kuantan residents on ground that they have not raised the matters with the relevant government minister. Mr Tan Bun Teet, an applicant to another judicial review case forthcoming to revoke the TOL and a spokesperson for SMSL says “It appeared that the mounting evidence by various expert witnesses and impact of the Lynas project on us the rakyat and our country from now and forever had not matter. The fact of the matter is SMSL has written to the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovations and other residents had earlier appealed to him. The Minister had made his decision which is why we turned to the court in the first place.” The judicial review yesterday was to challenge the decision of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) on the issuance of the temporary operating license (TOL). The case was filed on 18th December 2012. “Clearly, we cannot only rely on the court to decide our future. We have to do more work on our international campaign and our election campaign for change in Malaysia. Our future is not for sale to any company or government that does not care about the environment and the people.” Lamented Haji Ismail Abu Bakar who was present at yesterday’s hearing. “SMSL has vowed to fight until the end and we WILL do just that. We now have scientific facts about the Lynas project on hand. We will intensify our international campaign and the election campaign for a change of government. I call on concerned residents and citizens to stand together with us to do something to protect your family, investment and your future in Kuantan and in Malaysia. The government has failed in its duty of care to protect you. The choice is now in your hands to do something to reclaim your safe space here in this country.” Mr Tan appeals to supporters of the Stop Lynas campaign. For further comments, please contact SMSL hotline +60129823302

Boom in Mining Rare Earths Poses Mounting Toxic Risks The mining of rare earth metals, used in everything from smart phones to wind turbines, has long been dominated by China. But as mining of these key elements spreads to countries like Malaysia and Brazil, scientists warn of the dangers of the toxic and radioactive waste generated by the mines and processing plants.

THE Sydney socialite Oliver Peter Curtis was charged on Tuesday with conspiracy to commit insider trading, two years after his former best friend John Hartman pleaded guilty to insider trading offences that led to a prison sentence.

The charges relate to an alleged agreement between the two where Mr Curtis allegedly traded on the basis of inside information Hartman possessed about the trading intentions of his employer, Orion Asset Management.

According to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, in return for providing the insider information, it is alleged Mr Curtis provided Hartman with a share of the profits in the form of cash and ''by using the funds to purchase items for Mr Hartman''.

Mr Curtis is the son of the Sydney businessman Nick Curtis, a founder of Sino Resources and the executive chairman of the rare earths miner Lynas Corp.

Mr Curtis works with his father at a corporate advisory firm, Riverstone Advisory.

Hartman, the son of the prominent Sydney obstetrician Keith Hartman, was sentenced to three years' jail after pleading guilty to related, and unrelated, insider trading offences in April 2010.

Monday, 28 January 2013

The Government and Lynas have always claimed that the people have no scientific evidence to keep the temporary operating licence away from Lynas. Now we have a detailed document explaining why the licence should never have been issued and how the Lynas project will pollute our environment and its radioactive waste will leave undue burden for future generations.

The list goes on as evidenced in the Oeko report.

This report is a long- time coming and we highly appreciate the hard work and the thorough analysis carried out by Gerhard and his peers at the Oeko Institute.

This report clearly shows that the Lynas plant in Malaysia is not a zero-harm operation, far from it in fact. Lynas, the IAEA and our own government have all failed in their duty of care to ensure that the necessary standard is uphold and due procedure followed in allowing the Lynas project to go ahead.

SMSL will be using this report and the findings for future court cases. The report will be widely publicised and shared amongst professionals and concerned people in Malaysia so that we are clear what risks and hazards the Lynas project is posing on us.

The report will be widely circulated to journalists and institutions all over the world, especially to financial institutions, universities and to corporations who have signed up to buy Lynas' rare earth oxides. They will learn that Lynas has been deceiving them on the ecological sustainability of its products.

SMSL will of course use the report to pressure the Government to do its job as a regulator and a law enforcer. The people have spoken loud and clear. Any government that blindly supports the Lynas project like the current regime will not get their votes!

SMSL would like to thank the generous and caring public in Kuantan and elsewhere in Malaysia and overseas who have donated generously to the Stop Lynas campaign. Without their contributions, this report would not have been forthcoming and we would have to put up with a world-scale polluting plant without a good fight.

SMSL also commend the tiresless effort and energy of the public in continuing to protest to oppose the Lynas rare earth project. Without this energy and commitment, the Stop Lynas campaign will not be as strong and as well known today.

I urge everyone to continue to play their part and do whatever possible to help us Stop this polluting and hazardous project - STOP LYNAS!

Saturday, 26 January 2013

A total of 7 citizens from 3 major ethnics of Kuantan have filed for a Judicial Review on the decision of Atomic & Energy Licensing Board (AELB) on the issuance of a Temporary Operating License(TOL) on 18 Dec 2012. The Kuantan High Court extended the hearing date to 29 Jan 2013, to allow the respondent parties to present affidavits.

We appeal for everyone to be at the Kuantan High Court on the 29 Jan(Tue) 8.30am to show support and to let Lynas know that we will fight until the end for a better Malaysia.

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Four respected local residents En. Haji Ismail Abu Bakar, Mr. Ram Punusamy, Mr. Lim Siow Teow and Mdm. Shee Mei Lin on concerned Malaysians and supporters overseas to do their bit to bring about a better change for Malaysia and to help their friends pay Lynas for the court costs.Lynas has wasted no time to remind residents Mr. Tan Bun Teet, Pn. Hashimah and En. Syed Talib to pay RM 10,000.00 in court costs.Haji Ismail Abu Bakar, a friend of the three appellants said, “our friends have courageously taken up the legal battle for all of our sake. We are part and parcel of this struggle. Spare your change now to Stop Lynas!”On the 19th December 2012, the appeal court of Malaysia dismissed Kuantan residents’ appeal for to seek a temporary court order to suspend the Lynas Temporary Operating Licence (TOL). RM10K was awarded to Lynas and the government each.“The judges have completely disregarded the duty of care of the government and the social responsibility of the Lynas Corporation by imposing a hefty financial burden on caring and hardworking citizens who have been paying taxes to the country.” A disappointed but not defeated resident Mr. Ram Punusamy explained.The cases and the appeal were supported by affidavits full of warnings for Malaysia issued by sincere independent experts from Malaysia and overseas. The judges ruled that it was pre-matured to suspend Lynas’ licence even on a temporary basis until the judicial review cases are heard.“Do we really need to wait until our health suffers, livelihoods lost, environment irreversibly damaged and our economy ruined before the court delivers the much needed decision?” asks Mr. Lim Siow Teow a retired businessman who has done more than his fair share to raise public awareness of the Lynas issue despite his advanced age.In most developed nations, the precautionary principle is adopted when there is a lack of scientific consensus on the risks and if they are serious enough to warrant caution. In the case of Lynas, the Government has persistently brushed aside this very important principle despite its abysmal track record in handling the Bukit Merah tragedy where a rare earth plant 10 times smaller was found to be dumping toxic radioactive waste everywhere! The plant is now closed but not all the contaminated sites have been cleaned up.“If we cannot manage the Bukit Merah plant safely, how can the Government regulate and manage a plant like Lynas which is at least ten times bigger?? Can Malaysia ever hope to become a developed nation if we continue to behave like a third world country?” asked Haji Ismail.Lynas has no way of shipping its radioactive waste out of Malaysia and yet the government has allowed Lynas to start the dumping. No detailed environmental impact assessment has yet been done despite the plant being the world’s largest rare earth plant.Mdm. Shee said “As a mother and a resident, I cannot accept that the government simply allowed Lynas to start operating to pollute our air, our water and our land – all tax free. “All four residents lamented that “this Government has failed the people and the country. Let’s spare a few coins to show the government and Lynas that we care and we WANT CHANGE! We will join the Stop Lynas campaign to fight until the end for a better Malaysia!”

On the 19th December 2012, the appeal court of Malaysia dismissed Kuantan residents’ appeal to try to seek a temporary court order to suspend the Lynas Temporary Operating Licence (TOL). The appeal judges ordered the three Kuantan residents Mr Tan Bun Teet, Pn Hashimah and En Syed Talib to pay RM 10,000.00 each in costs to Lynas and the Attorney General’s office. They have courageously taken up the legal action in the interest of the public. Yet the judges have completely disregarded the duty of care of the government and the social responsibility of the Lynas Corporation by imposing a hefty financial burden on caring and hardworking citizens who have been paying taxes to the country. The Government and Mitsubishi Corporation have failed to properly clean up the toxic mess left behind from the now shut down Asian Rare Earth plant in Bukit Merah. The Government remained in denial of its impact on local communities – with unusually high childhood leukemia deaths, miscarriages and birth defects. No health impact study was ever done and victims were left to fend for themselves. How then can we trust the AELB and the Government to safely and competently manage a plant ten times bigger with much, much more waste and pollution? We are disappointed that credible warnings issued by independent experts in their court affidavits have not managed to move the judges. Do we really need to wait until our health suffers, livelihoods lost, environment damaged and our economy ruined before the court delivers the much needed decision? The judges did not consider the precautionary principle which many advanced nations have adopted. Can Malaysia ever hope to become a developed nation if we continue to behave like a third world country? Lynas has no way of shipping its radioactive waste out of Malaysia and yet the government has allowed Lynas to start the dumping. No detailed environmental impact assessment has yet been done and yet the government has licensed Lynas to start polluting our air, our water and our land – all tax free. Why should tax payers shoulder this burden?? This Government has failed the people and the country! Lynas has wasted no time and has demanded for the RM10,000. Let’s spare a few coins to show the government and Lynas that we care and we WANT CHANGE! We will fight until the end for a better Malaysia!

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

SMSL is appalled by the on-going insincere public statements from the government on Lynas. Last night Dato’ Seri Mustapha Bin Mohamed, Minister Of International Trade And Industry (MITI) claimed that the plant is safe scientifically and promised to scrutinise the plant and to revoke Lynas’ licence if it is unsafe.Mr Tan Bun Teet from SMSL said “If the Government is genuinely serious and sincere about safety, take away Lynas’ temporary operating licence (ToL) NOW. How can any responsible Government issue the ToL when Lynas has YET to find a scientifically safe solution to its millions of TONNES of radioactive and toxic waste and when no detailed environmental impact assessment is carried out for a such a notoriously polluting world-scale project!”

“We are tired of this Government and its empty promises. Unless the Lynas TOL is revoked and the entire project re-evaluated with an independent detailed environmental impact assessment done, tax payers and concerned citizens will definitely vote for a change in Government. Enough is enough.” Said Haji Ismail Abu Bakar, another spokesperson from SMSL.

Last Saturday citizens all over the country overwhelmingly turned out at the peaceful mass rally in Kuala Lumpur(#KL112 - The People's Uprising Rally dated Jan 12, 2013)asking for a change in government. Amongst many who turned up are citizens campaigning for the Lynas project to be stopped.

Mr Tan explained, “Lynas will not be able to remove the radioactive waste from Malaysia. The Australian Government has reiterated many times it will NOT take Lynas’ radioactive waste back. The Basel Convention prevents hazardous waste to be sent and/or dumped in a poor developing country.”

The Lynas rare earth processing project is currently undergoing trials to produce rare earth oxides from its ore concentrate from its Western Australian Mt Weld mine.

Ram Punusamy, a Kuantan resident and a Stop Lynas protestor said, “Seriously, which country will be foolish enough to take Lynas’ radioactive toxic waste? Stop fooling us that the radioactive waste will be taken out of Malaysia! Lynas has no way of doing that and we do not want Lynas’ toxic waste turned into commercial products that will end up in our roads, our plantations, orchards and vegetable farms, least of all in our bedrooms, our offices, our work places and our homes!”

SMSL vowed to continue its legal battle to revoke the Lynas TOL to protect Kuantan and the country from the risk and hazards of Lynas’ toxic waste and pollution despite its earlier failed appeal at the federal court of appeal in Putrajaya. Three Kuantan residents were ordered to pay RM10,000 to Lynas and the Government for costs.

Mr Tan Bun Teet, an applicant to revoke the TOL and a spokesperson for SMSL says “We have three judicial review cases pending. We will be armed with strong technical and scientific evidence for these cases. We will FIGHT till the end to Stop Lynas!”

Haji Ismail Abu Bakar, one of the other applicants to revoke the ToL comments, “We have no choice. Kuantan is our home. We have to do everything possible to Stop Lynas”

Lynas has proposed to turn its radioactive waste contaminated with other toxic substances such as chemical compounds and heavy metals into commercial by-products. This will result in its hazards spreading far and wide subjecting more innocent public to health risks and threatening local property value. This kind of practice is illegal in most advanced nations.

“Why should Malaysians be subject to such risks from Lynas? We pay taxes to keep our country going. A foreign company like Lynas that pays no tax should NEVER be allowed to pollute our shore to risk citizens life and future. Once again I call on concerned residents and citizens to stand together with us to do something to protect your family, investment and your future in Kuantan and in Malaysia. The government has failed in its duty of care to protect you. The choice is now in your hands to do something to reclaim your safe space here in this country.” Mr Tan appeals to supporters of the Stop Lynas campaign.

The application for a judicial review case will be heard in court on 29th January 2013.